How to Gradually Fade from Color to Grayscale in Photoshop CS6

Layer masks are extremely powerful in Photoshop CS6 when it comes to blending multiple images so that one seems to dissolve into the others. Follow these steps to use a layer mask to take a single image from color to grayscale:

Drag the gradient from the top of your image to the bottom.

Experiment with long drags and short drags. The angle and length of your mouse movement determine how the layer mask reveals the underlying image.

Where black appears on the layer mask, the grayscale image is hidden. Where white appears on the mask, the grayscale image shows through and everything in between allows the grayscale image to partially show.

Although this example used a linear gradient, you can experiment with the other types, as well. Radial gradients can provide some interesting effects.